Stay (Topp Dogg) {Published on Amazon}

Part 6

Sunday

They kept me in the hospital for another few days and each day, Kidoh stayed. He didn't leave my side even though we barely talked. I slept for most of the time.

When it was time to leave, Kidoh took control and helped me finish things up. He helped me into his car and the hospital was no longer a problem of mine.

"So, Hyein, were you being serious?" He asked me as he started the car.

"Serious about what?" I asked him.

"About you and me. Are we really together?" He asked, full of curiosity.

My shoulders dropped. That's right, I did say that. I looked at Kidoh, unsure of what to say, so I spoke whatever came to my mind first. "I'm not ready for a relationship right now, but could I maybe stay with you for a while? It's okay if you say no, I just don't want to deal with my family."

There was a pause as Kidoh shifted gears and turned around a sharp corner. "I don't mind if you stay, I just want to let you know that Xero lives with me. Plus, Yano's going to be there."

I sat up a bit straighter, suddenly feeling alert. "Why is Yano going to be there? I don't mind Xero, but why Yano?" I asked in a rushed voice.

"He's living with me until he finds a place to stay. I'm just helping a brother out." I fell back into my seat. Of course he had to help my brat of a nephew. I folded my arms over my chest. "Is there room for me?" I asked, still hoping I could find some refuge at Kidoh's house.

"I have two rooms, mine and Xero's. Yano has been sleeping on the couch. I'll figure something out for you. It's only for a week, right?" I nodded my head anxiously. "I only need that long. By then, my mom should stop making pancakes." Kidoh raised an eye brow. "She makes pancakes when she's upset. Like thirty to fifty a day." Kidoh had an "ah" moment.

*****

When we reached his house, I had forgotten it was above the dance studio. The bad part of town. The scary part of town. The place my mother always told me to stay away from, until I went to dance class.

"Why are you bringing me to the studio?" I asked him. He looked up at the building. "Oh, that's right. I don't think I told you. I live above the studio. Very top floor." I nodded my head, sniffed my nose, cleared my throat. Then did that again about another ten times before I got enough strength to tell myself to stop.

Kidoh walked behind me with his hand on my back, pushing towards the fire escape. I stopped at the end of the ladder. "Why are we going up the fire escape?" I asked him. "The elevators broken and the owner, me, is too poor to fix it." I nodded again, sniffed, and cleared my throat. That continued all the way up the rickety fire escape ladders and steps and platforms. Once we got to the door, I got control of myself once again.

Kidoh fumbled around for his keys. Then he unlocked the bright red door. "Welcome to my humble abode," he said, opening the door.

I walked in and took off my shoes. The tile was a rather interesting color and it was only in this small section. They were navy blue and bright green in a checkered pattern. There was a small step onto a hard wood floor area. There was a television, a couch, and a chair in front of me. To my left, a corner of tile stuck out and there was an archway opening into the kitchen. In the back of the apartment, there were three doors. Then towards the center of the left wall was the broken elevator.

"This place is," I thought of a descriptive smart person word to say, but I couldn't find one, so I just said, "nice." Kidoh chuckled behind me. "Thank you." He walked into the center of the apartment, in front of the elevator. "As you can see, there's plenty of room for your nephew to sleep on a futon. I'm sure it'll be just as cozy as the couch too."